Area under stubble burning has reduced: Punjab govt

BATHINDA: Relieved by data presented in the Supreme Court that highlighted stubble burning in Punjab and its neighbouring state of Haryana contributed to less than 10% air pollution in Delhi, the state government said that area where crop residue was burnt since October has reduced considerably compared to last few years.
Punjab recorded 1,761 incidents of crop residue burning on Monday, increasing the total count this season to 67,165 incidents.

The state’s agriculture minister, Randeep Singh Nabha said that as per the weekly report from Punjab Remote Sensing Centre, the area under paddy stubble burning was 10.34 lakh hectare till November 10, 2021 compared to 15.21 lakh hectare in 2020. He said the colossal amount of paddy stubble generated in the state requires a holistic approach and the state has adopted one
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Punjab has worked diligently on various facets stretching from in-situ and ex-situ management of stubble to motivating industries to utilize paddy stubble. The reduction in area itself speaks volume of the intent of the government, Nabha said.
The state is also sensitive about the issue of increase in diesel prices and has requested the Union government to provide an incentive of Rs100 per quintal to farmers as paddy stubble management compensation over and above the maximum support price (MSP), Nabha added.
The ruling party and other political parties reacted strongly after it was revealed in an affidavit filed by the Centre in the Supreme Court that stubble burning had 4% contribution to pollution of Delhi.
AAP farmer wing head and Punjab MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan accused BJP-led central government of misleading the nation for all these years and said that the “central government never missed any opportunity to blame Punjab farmers for Delhi’s pollution and only now the reality has come out in the open. The government leaving aside the blame game should find real ways to eradicate pollution and should stop blaming the annadatas.”